Latch for the frame jaws of purses, hand bags, or the like



June 23, 1925. 1,543,577

E. KUHN LATCH FOR THE FRAME JAWS OF PURSES, HAND BAGS, OR THE LIKE Filed June 10, 1924 15 i9 i7 Z3 16 i1 h l/ Maw/M zayw ATTORNEYS Patented June 23, 1925.

V UNITED STATES PATENTTOFFICTE. 1

EDMOND KUI-IN, OF NEW YORK, Ni Y.

LATCH FOR THE FRAME JAWS OF PURSES, HAND BAGS, OR THE LIKE. I

Application filed June 10, 1924.1 SeriaLN'o. 719,182.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMOND KUHN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manl1attan,.in the county and State of New York, United States of America, have invented new and Improved Latches for the Frame Jaws of Purses, Hand Bags, or the like, of which the following is a. full, clear, and exact description.

This invention has relation to fastening devices and has particular reference to an improved latch for the hingedly connected frame jaws of purses, handbags and analogous articles of that type which include-a pair of knobs rigidly carried by the frame jaws and arranged in substantially side by side relation when the aws are closed.

Heretofore in latching devices of this character the knob of one jaw frictionally engaged behind the knob of the opposite jaw to retain the jaws in closed relation and it has been observed that the connection as Well as the frame jaws were subjected to a 2 considerable strain when the knobs were sprung past each other for latching or releasing the same. v

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved latching device of this character which relieves the frame jaws and the hinged connection therebetween from any strain which would tend to weaken the same or distort the jaws.

As a further object the invention contemplates a latching device of the character set forth in which the friction due to the engaging and releasing of the same is reduced to a minimum and in which a more positive locking is effected.

As a still further object the invention provides a latching device of the character set forth which is comparatively simple in its construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and which is highly efficient in its purpose.

Vith the above recited and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel construction set forth in the following specification, particularly pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that the right is reserved to embodiments other.

than those actually illustrated herein to the full extent indicated by the general meaning of the terms in which the claims are expressed.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view of a 1 purse, handbag, or'the'like, equippedwith a frame jaw latch constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary similar view with partsbroken away and shown in section to disclose the underlying structure.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken approximately. on the line indicated at 33 in Fig. 2.

Fig. ,4 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the line indicated at 4+4: in Fig. 2 and illustrating the device in latched position.

Fig. 5 is a similar view illustrating the device inreleased position.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, 10 designates a purse, handbag or similar article which includes a pair of frame jaws 11 and 12, the same being hingedly connected as at 13 for relative swing- 1 ing movement to open or closedposition.

The latching device constituting the invention consists of a pair of knobs 14 and 15 which are rigidly attached to the respective frame jaws 11 and 12 and substantially at the medial portion thereof and which are designed to be disposed in alignment or side by side relation when the said jaws are in closed position. The knob 14 is provided in the face which confronts the knob 15 with a keeper recess 16. The knob 15 carried by the jaw 12 is provided in the face which confronts the knob 14 with a guide socket 17 within which a latching roller 18 is mounted for sliding and turnin movement. A coiled expansion spring 19 1s interposed between the inner end of the guide socket 17 and the innermost periphery of the roller for normally projecting the roller outwardly from said socket and into locking engagement with the keeper recess 16 when the knobs are in alignment or side by side relation. Preferably the inner end of the spring 19 is anchored in a recess 20 while the outer end bears against the roller periphery. In order to provide means for limiting the outward projection of the roller 18 and to further provide a journal or hearing therefor, a pair of guide slots 21 are provided in the knob 15 in communication with the socket 17 for receiving the opposite ends 22 of an axial shaft 23in the roller 18. The ends 22 constitute trunnions for the roller which guide thesame in its sliding movement and journal the roller for rotation.

In use and operation of the device, the confronting peripheries of the knobs are so arranged on the frame jaw that their confronting peripheries do not engage when the same are in alignment. The latching relation between said knobs is effected by the projection of the outer periphery of the roller 18 in the keeper recess 16, the spring 19 serving to retain the roller in the recess while yieldably permittitng or tensioning the retraction of the same into the socket 17 upon relative movement of the frame jaws and knobs to release or latch the device. It willthus be seen that the hinges l3 and jaws 11 and 12 are relieved of any strain, while rotation of the roller 18 reduces friction to a I minimum. It will be furtherobserved that the device affords a more positive engagement in contradistinction to latches of this type in which the frictional engagement of the knobs serve to retain the jaws in closed relation.

I claim:

1. In a latch for the hingedly connected frame jaws of purses, handbags, or the like, of-the type which include a pair of knobs rigidly carried by the frame jaws and in which said knobs are disposed in alignment with each other when the jaws are closed, one of said knobs having a keeper recess in its confronting face, the other of said knobs having a-socket in its confronting face, a latching roller mounted in said socket, means for normally projecting the roller from the socket for latching engagement within the keeper recess of the other knob, and means for limiting the projection of the roller from said socket.

2. In a latch for the hingedly connected frame jaws of purses, handbags, or the like, of the type which include a pair of knobs rigidly carried by the frame jaws and in which said knobs are disposed in alignment with each other when the jaws are closed, one of said knobs having a keeper recess in its confronting face, the other of said knobs having a socket in its confronting'face, a latching roller mounted in said socket, means for normally projecting the roller from the socket for latching engagement within the keeper recess of the other knob, and means for limiting the projection of the roller from said socket, said limiting means consisting of trunnions on the roller and slot ted portions in the knob receiving said trunnions. 1

3. In a latch of the character described including a pair of knobs rigidly carried by the frame jaws and disposed in alignment with each otherwhen thejaws are in closed relation, a recessed portion in one of said knobs constituting a keeper, a socketed portion in the other knob, an anti-friction latching roller mounted for sliding and rotary movement in the socketed' portion, aspring interposed between the roller and the inner end of the socketed portion for normally projecting the roller outwardly from said socket, slotted guide portions communicating with the socketed portion of the'knob, and trunnions projecting axially from the roller into the slotted guides for limiting the outward projection of the roller, as and for the purpose specified.

EDMOND KUHN. 

